Injector device with plastic for repairing cracks

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an injector device with plastic for repairing cracks, which has an injector gun with an injector nozzle for the outlet of the plastic on a first end, a collector for receiving plastic beads connected to the second end of the injector gun, supply means configured to move the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector nozzle, and heating means along the injector gun in order to heat the plastic beads until they are in a liquid state before the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Paraguay Application No. P 1836508 PY filed May 17, 2018, application which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the technical field of construction, more specifically to the construction, paving and maintenance of roads and pavements, and more specifically to the repair and sealing of small cracks produced in the asphalt of said roads and pavements. The invention relates in particular to an injector device with plastic for repairing cracks in general, and in particular for repairing by means of sealing small cracks in the asphalt, by using liquid or semi-liquid plastic. The device has an injector gun with a nozzle configured for the outlet of the plastic, a collector for receiving the plastic beads connected to said injector gun, supply means that move the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector nozzle, and heating means along the injector gun that heat the plastic beads until they are in a liquid state before the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that the outer asphalt layer of roads, paths and other pavements can undergo small cracks due to the continuous passage of vehicles, which can get worse if they are not quickly repaired, making the transit thereof dangerous, and implying an elevated risk of accidents.

In order to repair these small cracks in the asphalt there are inventions like the one described in document U.S. Pat. No. 1,893,082A, which corresponds to a conical crack sealing device that uses concrete or asphalt concrete, which is used together with a valve. Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,249B1 shows machinery for repairing and maintaining the asphalt layer. Both documents, as well as other similar ones show devices and machinery that are complex and expensive in the use thereof, which can cause the use thereof to be delayed, making the cracks get worse, thus increasing the deterioration of the pavement and the risk of accidents.

It is thus desirable to have a device for repairing cracks in general, and in particular small cracks in the asphalt layer of roads, paths and other pavements which repairs and seals small cracks in a simple, cheap and efficient manner, avoiding the disadvantages of the previously existing systems in the state of the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resolves the problems existing in the state of the art by means of an injector device with plastic for repairing cracks in general, and in particular small cracks in the asphalt layer of roads, paths and other pavements that repairs and seals cracks in a simple manner, by means of molten plastic.

The device can have an essentially cylindrical or conical shape, although it may have other shapes. The device has an injector gun that in turn has an injector nozzle on a first end, for the outlet of the plastic that will seal and repair the crack. Furthermore, the device has a collector for receiving plastic beads, which is connected to the second end of the injector gun, and supply means that move the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector nozzle. The plastic beads can come from recycled plastic, for example from bottles or packaging. Additionally, the device has heating means arranged along the injector gun, which heat the plastic beads until they are in a liquid state before the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle, directly to the crack in the asphalt surface to be repaired.

In a particular manner, the supply means can be formed by a motor fastened to the device by means of supports, which actuates an internal worm shaft arranged along the inside of the collector and the injector gun, which moves the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector nozzle.

Regarding the heating means, a gas burner arranged along the heating gun can be used in particular, although alternatively it can have one or several electrical resistors around the injector gun.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating means have a temperature controller that maintains a temperature in the heating means in the range of 200° C.−300° C., which is the most suitable temperature for melting the plastic beads. Particularly, this temperature controller can be a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

Preferably, in order to prevent the heat emitted by the heating means from leaving towards the exterior and being able to cause accidents or inconveniences for the users of the device, said device has a protector arranged externally along the injector gun, configured to prevent the passage of the heat towards the outside.

By means of the present device, the partial and temporary repair process of the asphalt surface of roads, paths and other pavements is accelerated. This repair is temporary because with time the injected plastic will need to be replaced with asphalt concrete; nevertheless, the device stops the advance of the crack in an immediate and simple manner. Furthermore, the device is simple, lightweight and portable, which facilitates the transportation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to make the invention more readily understandable, by way of illustration and not limitation, an embodiment of the invention that refers to a series of figures is described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the injector device object of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a longitudinal cross section of an embodiment of the invention to show the inside of the collector and the injector gun.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 that shows an embodiment of the heating means by means of a gas burner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, which shows an alternative embodiment of the heating means by means of electrical resistors.

These figures refer to a set of elements which are:

-   1. motor of the supply means -   2. supports for the motor -   3. collector -   4. injector gun -   5. heating means -   6. protector -   7. injector nozzle -   8. transmission shaft of the supply means -   9. worm shaft -   10. plastic beads -   11. first end of the injector gun -   12. second end of the injector gun -   13. temperature controller of the heating means -   14. gas burner -   15. electrical resistor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an injector device with plastic for repairing cracks in general, and in particular small cracks in the asphalt layer of roads, paths and other pavements that repairs and seals small cracks in a simple manner, by means of molten plastic.

As shown in the figures, the device has an injector gun 4 that in turn has an injector nozzle 7 on a first end 11, through which the plastic intended to seal and repair the crack in the asphalt layer leaves. The device also has a collector 3 for receiving the plastic beads 10, which is connected to the second end 12 of the injector gun 4. Furthermore, the device has supply means for moving the plastic beads 10 from the collector 3 along the injector gun 4 to the injector nozzle 7, and heating means 5 arranged along the injector gun 4 and configured to heat the plastic beads 10 until they are in a liquid state before the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, and especially in FIG. 2, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the supply means have a motor 1 fastened to the device, specifically to the collector 3, by means of supports 2. The motor, by means of a transmission shaft 8, actuates an internal worm shaft 9 arranged along the inside of the collector 3 and the injector gun 4, which moves the plastic beads 10 from the collector 3 along the injector gun 4 to the injector nozzle 7.

Regarding the heating means, a gas burner 14 arranged along the heating gun 4 can be used in particular, as seen in FIG. 3, although alternatively to the gas burner 14 it can have one or several electrical resistors 15 around the injector gun 4, as seen in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heating means 5 preferably have a temperature controller 13, which maintains a temperature in the heating means 5 in the range of 200° C.-300° C., which is the most suitable temperature for melting the plastic beads 10 until they reach the liquid state thereof for the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle 7 of the injector gun 4. Particularly, this temperature controller 13 can be a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to prevent the heat emitted by the heating means 5 from leaving towards the exterior and being able to cause accidents or inconveniences for the users of the device, said device has at least one reflecting protector 6 arranged externally along the injector gun 4, configured to prevent the passage of the heat towards the outside. 

1. An injector device with plastic for repairing cracks, comprising: an injector gun which in turn comprises an injector nozzle on a first end configured for the outlet of the plastic; a collector configured to receive plastic beads connected to the second end of the injector gun; supply means configured to move the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector gun; and heating means arranged along the injector gun configured to heat the plastic beads until they are in a liquid state before the outlet thereof through the injector nozzle.
 2. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 1, wherein the supply means comprises: a motor fastened to the device by means of supports which actuates; a worm shaft arranged along the inside of the collector and the injector gun configured to move the plastic beads from the collector along the injector gun to the injector nozzle.
 3. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises at least one gas burner arranged along the injector gun.
 4. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises at least one electrical resistor around the injector gun.
 5. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a temperature controller configured to maintain a temperature in the heating means in the range of 200° C.-300° C.
 6. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 5, wherein the temperature controller is a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.
 7. The injector device with plastic for repairing cracks according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a protector arranged externally along the injector gun, configured to prevent the passage of the heat towards the outside. 